VA Community Care Network (CCN)
SHS Chicago is a member of the Community Care Network. The VA Community Care Network (CCN) is VA’s direct link with community providers to ensure Veterans receive timely, high-quality care. CCN administers services, promptly pays for services, and manages the network to its full potential.
Visit their website to learn more: www.va.gov/COMMUNITYCARE
VetAssist® Program for Aid and Attendance
The VetAssist® Program for Aid and Attendance helps wartime veterans or the surviving spouses of wartime veterans in the Chicago area with a little-known pension called “Aid & Attendance” from the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA). This benefit can offset the cost of home care and other services to live more safely at home. Many who qualify don’t realize they are eligible. Military service must include at least one
day during wartime, but overseas service, combat duty, or a service-related disability is not required.
We partner with Veterans Home Care® and are a VetAssist® Program network provider. We can help you apply for the VA pension and begin home care before the VA processes your claim.
One of the best features of the VetAssist Program is a no-cost, interest-free loan that allows you to begin care right away. When the VA approves the claim application, you receive retroactive funds from the date the application was filed. You can use those retroactive funds to repay the loan.
Click here to learn more.
How to qualify for VetAssist® Program for Aid and Attendance
To qualify for the VetAssist Program, a veteran or surviving spouse will need to meet the following “3 Ms” criteria regarding Military service, Medical condition, and Money.
1) Military: Must be a veteran or the surviving spouse of a veteran who served at least 90 days on active duty, at least one day during wartime, with an honorable discharge (Persian Gulf War veterans must have two years of active duty or the full period of which they were called for active duty.)
2) Medical: Must have a non-service connected medical condition causing a need for assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) such as bathing, dressing, grooming, feeding oneself, using the toilet, and personal mobility. A physician must verify the medical condition.
3) Money: Must meet the net worth limit (annual countable income and assets) which is $129,094 (effective December 1, 2019). Annual countable income and assets do not include a home, vehicle, or the cost of continual medical expenses including the cost of in-home care.
Surviving Spouses of wartime veterans must meet “4 Ms” criteria which include all of the above plus “marriage.”
4) Marriage: Must have been married for at least one year and married to the qualifying veteran at the time of his death and in most circumstances has not re-married
Watch a video on the VetAssist Program here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o31qYlRV6bQ
VetAssist SmartCompanion
Veterans and their families may qualify for VetAssist SmartCompanion with no out-of-pocket costs. VetAssist SmartCompanion combines patented 24/7 voice-activated emergency response technology with the intelligence and entertainment of Alexa®. Best of all, your VA Aid and Attendance benefit will cover the cost.
Click here to learn more about the VetAssist SmartCompanion!
Do you know anyone that could use the SmartCompanion? Click here for a referral form and a SmartCompanion consultant will reach out to explain how you can maintain in-home independence.
Designated war periods are:
- World War II: December 7, 1941-December 31, 1946
- Korean War: June 27, 1950-January 31, 1955
- Vietnam War: August 5, 1964-May 7, 1975. Veterans who served February 28, 1961-August 5, 1964, must have served “in-country” (Vietnam).
- Persian Gulf War: August 2, 1990- date yet to be determined. (The active duty for these veterans is different than for other wartime veterans. It is at least two years or the full period for which they were called to duty.)